RISK & REWARD ✔️

99 | 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦

I CAN HEAR the sheer weight of guilt in Dahlia's voice when she speaks. It's interesting; her eyes keep flipping from Billie to me, as if she's trying to appease both of us. "I didn't mean any harm. Promise. I didn't...I didn't mean to do anything wrong. I just thought..."

She lapses off, like she's trying to figure out how to word her apology — Billie, stone-cold, just blinks and stares at her, unspeaking.

Dahlia looks to me, as if for help, but I'm actively ogling Billie's arms. Oops. It's hard not to; nice, sculpted shoulders, shaped biceps. Toned forearms. Now that she's next to me, I notice a little black hairband around the bottom of her wrist; I wonder if it's maybe a little tight, or maybe I'm just imagining things because her hands look delectably veiny at the moment.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so fucking sorry." Dahlia sounds like the human equivalent of a kicked puppy. I could almost laugh if I wasn't upset with her. "I didn't think anything of it. Really. I thought you were just being dramatic."

Still nothing from Billie. Just blinking, slow breathing, and the so-slight tense in her jaw. I find myself admiring her side profile like an idiot. Nose so slightly wrinkled, eyes narrowed, brow low. Lips set together.

"The girls and I — we usually go out to that bar. I'm friends with the owner — he's a client of mine. I told you that, but I don't know if you remember." Dahlia shifts uncomfortably in her seat. "He makes us drinks, and we...we usually put something extra in all of them. We're all used t...to coke, I just didn't think it was a big deal."

Billie says nothing. Dahlia cringes. "I had no idea. I'm so sorry. I...I don't know what else I can say. Fuck. I'm so fucking sorry."

The silence is so loud I have an overwhelming urge to not only plug my ears but close my eyes. I don't say a word; I wait for Billie, who almost looks like she's ignored everything Dahlia has said. She doesn't look like she's thinking any of it over. She just kind of looks pissed.

Finally, she answers. "Okay," and that's all. She swallows. Shifts her weight. Keeps on staring. Dahlia keeps on staring back; she glances between the two of us, evidently confused and becoming squirmy under Billie's glare.

"I, um." She gestures weakly to the door. "I h...have a thing with some of the girls at one, I"

"Okay." Billie cuts her off, tone coldly assertive. She straightens; something about her reminds me of a cobra when it's sort of recoiled, readying to strike. Something about her posture. Dahlia might get a similar sense of danger, because she makes to get off of the stool, not breaking eye contact with Billie like she's afraid she'll get bit if she does.

"Is that fine? Or—"

"Yeah." One step around the counter, and Dahlia's trying to make her backwards walk appear normal. It's not. She looks like she's about to shit herself.

"Okay. Sorry. I'll leave you guys alone. If you, um." She looks at me, and I have to bite back a laugh because I think Billie's only following her to, like, get the door, but Dahlia seems to be taking her advance as Billie preparing to actually swing on her. "If you guys want to go out with us before you leave, you're more than welcome. No problem. We'll, um. We'll keep it clean if you do."

"Okay." Billie's nonchalance has Dahlia scared. As they round the corner for the door, I think Dahlia actually takes at least a single running step. She certainly sounds like she's hurrying as I hear the door open and actually hear what sounds like clothes catching on the latch from her making a break for it before there's even enough space for her to pass through; whatever they say at the door is rushed and inaudible to me. I hear rushed mumbling, Billie's same old "okay", and then the door shuts.